More than 600 guests attended fundraiser and tailgate party held before the first night game in the 103-year history of college football at historic Yale Bowl
Pictured (L-R) are Eugene Doris, Athletics Director at Fairfield University, Reverend Jeffrey von Arx, former President of Fairfield University, and Robert L. Berchem of the law firm with the Walter Camp and Heisman Trophies
The annual Walter Camp Day at the Bowl was held on Friday, October 21 when the Yale University Bulldogs hosted the University of Pennsylvania Quakers in the first night game ever held in the 103-year history of historic Yale Bowl. The game was televised live on NBC Sports. Berchem Moses PC sponsored the pre-game event for the eighth consecutive year to support the Walter Camp Football Foundation (WCFF) and the Yale-New Haven Hospital Auxiliary Toy Closets Program. Fans, friends and firm clients were asked to bring a new unwrapped toy to support the cause, and in return, received a free general admission ticket to the game. Attorneys and clients of the law firm donated hundreds of toys again this year, bringing the total-to-date to more than 2,500 gifts for children who are patients at Yale-New Haven Hospital.
Additionally, guests had the opportunity to have their photo taken with the Walter Camp Player of the Year Trophy and the Heisman Trophy won by Yale football player Clinton Frank in 1937. The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football Player of the Year as decided by the NCAA Division I-A head coaches; Walter Camp played college football at Yale College from 1876 to 1882 and is known as the “Father of American Football”. The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding player in college football in the United States whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.
“The Walter Camp Football Foundation is very appreciative of Berchem Moses’s generous support over several years,” said Robert Kauffman, WCFF President. “Each year the WCFF Toy Drive sponsored by Berchem Moses has grown exponentially, becoming one of the largest annual toy drives for Yale-New Haven Hospital Auxiliary’s Toy Closets program, which provides good cheer for so many hospitalized children,” Kauffman added.
The Yale-New Haven Hospital Auxiliary’s Toy Closets program was developed to provide new, age-appropriate and educational toys to pediatric patients at the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital. Founded in 1993 by Ann Nyberg, WTNH News Channel 8 anchorwoman, the Toy Closets help insure that pediatric patients come away from their hospitalization with a pleasant memory. In addition, the toys serve as gifts for special occasions such as birthdays and holiday celebrations for hospitalized children. Toys, gifts and financial contributions are needed throughout the year. The success of the Toy Closets program is directly related to community involvement, such as Walter Camp Day at the Bowl. The Auxiliary encourages schools, organizations and businesses to make the program the recipient of their community-minded efforts.
About the Walter Camp Football Foundation: Walter Camp, “The Father of American football,” first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp – a former Yale University athlete and football coach – is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tries and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation – a New Haven-based all-volunteer group – was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting annually an All-America team.